How to Bleed Water Pipes

Creaking pipes, water hammer and shaking faucets can result from your home plumbing system's built-in air chambers becoming waterlogged. When you shut off water suddenly, the fast-moving water surging through the pipes comes to an abrupt halt. If the air chambers (also called air cushions) installed in the pipes to soften the blow and curb the noise become waterlogged, water hammer can occur. Water hammer is rough on plumbing and can cause fittings to fail and pipes to burst. With no tools and just a few minutes of your time, you can "bleed" the correct air balance back into the pipes to eliminate this noisy and potentially expensive problem.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Ensure that your dishwasher and clothes washer are not in operation.

2. Close the main water valve to your house. The water shutoff valve is typically located in the basement in colder climates. It is outdoors in warmer areas.

3. Turn on the lowest-lying outdoor faucet. This is where all the sitting water in your plumbing system will exit the house.

4. Open several faucets on each level of the house, including the basement.

5. Turn the main water valve back on once water stops draining from the lowest outdoor faucet.

6. Shut off all faucets and the outdoor hose bib once all sputtering stops. The sputtering is caused by excess air being expelled from your plumbing system.